Page 229 of Solanum

I chuckled and snagged the bar of soap from the dish beside us. Nora let me wash her, as always, and she returned the favor. Both of us fell into a round of thoughtful quiet. Nora's soft expression, now peaceful without the overt fear of water, soothed me in ways I didn't have words to express. It wasn't too long ago where I had to negotiate with her to even stand in the tub or sit by the pool. Now, she didn't bat a lash at the water that rained down.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked while rubbing soapy circles around my chest.

"You."

"You always say that." She smiled and reached for the shampoo. "You okay with this one?"

"Yeah. My hair doesn't turn green." I grinned and nodded for her to continue.

"Very funny." She lathered up my hair, then turned around so I could do the same for her. "Why were you thinking about me?"

"Because, baby…" I massaged her scalp while the foam covered my hands. "Seeing you at ease in the water reminds me how fortunate we are to be here right now. And twice in the same day drives the point home."

She turned around to face me, both of us sputtering when we rinsed off. Nora smiled through it, and I reveled in it and her.

"Been a rough time, but it got better," she said, lacing her fingers behind my neck when I leaned her against the cool wall.

"It did." I kissed her and she gripped my hair. "You did."

"We did. I need to tell you my opinion about something. I've been wanting to."

"Okay." I brushed a few water droplets from her chin when they leapt from her lashes. "Shoot."

"I think you should take Wilkinson's job, Car. Everyone always looks to you for guidance. You're the most competent of leaders, and the team knows it. They respect you. They're stronger because of you. You won't make the same mistakes Wilkinson did." She pressed her index finger to my lips when I made to speak, and continued, "A promotion like this actually reduces your time in the field. Think of how often Wilkinson was truly on scene with us in all our time together. He would show up after or give the orders before. He traveled the least out of everyone. It makes sense to me and I think you're selling yourself short."

I considered her for a moment, gazing into her green eyes brightened by the overhead lighting.

"And I know you're only negotiating terms as you are because of me." She rose to her tiptoes and poked my lips again. "Don't deny it. We both know it's true, and I appreciate it. But you have to see this through, Car. If you hate it, you can always do something else. Maggie and Sali rope you into their private investigation stuff all the time. Even though they deny actually being P.I.s half the time, they still do it. Money isn't everything."

"Oh, now you believe money isn't everything?" I narrowed my eyes at her playfully. "After all you put yourself through just because of your money concerns."

She laughed and tapped her fingers against my cheek. "I've learned from my mistakes."

"Says the employed psychologist who makes a ton of money working part-time."

"Hey. It's not my fault my education and expertise require exorbitant fees." She grinned and pretended to flip her hair.

"You little shit." I laughed and pulled her into a hug.

She snickered through it, and we rinsed ourselves off, pausing our conversation for a bit.

"All I'm saying is, if you hate it, there are always other options," she said while wrapping a towel around herself a few minutes later. "But I don't think you'll hate it."

"Are you sure I won't hate it?" I toweled off my hair, then dried the rest of me before ditching the towel in the hamper.

"I'm fairly certain you won't hate it," she said, then headed out to the main room.

"So confident tonight, baby." I dropped down on the bed and again, watched her fuss with herself after dropping her towel.

"I'm usually confident." She sat down at the small vanity table and dowsed herself with all different kinds of lotions, beginning with her facial stuff then working her way down.

"You sit at a vanity of lies, girly girl. But I'm happy you feel confident about this."

She narrowed her eyes at me, though her playful smile remained. "I do. And I think you should do it. I'll support you if you decide not to, of course, but in case you were holding yourself back because of what I might think about it, now you know."

"Understood." I smiled, leaning back on my elbows to take in the sight of her. "Are you going to make me lick various fragrances and shit off your body again? I don't think any of that is edible."

"Saltwater makes my skin dry." She flailed her arms and laughed. "I'll leave all the good parts unlotioned."

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